Puddles loves cuddles. Viv’s friendly therapy dog brings broad smiles to our hospice

On her regular visits to our inpatients ward and Wellbeing Centre, Puddles, the black labrador, gets lots of attention. She also snaffles the odd biscuit, people can’t resist giving her a treat.

She has a calm, serene manner and is happy to be patted, cuddled and generally fussed over when she’s working. What a great job!

Her owner, Viv, is a registered volunteer for Wirral Hospice St John’s as well as volunteering for a charity called Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN), a Wirral based organisation formally registered in 2016.

Puddles has been visiting the hospice with Viv for around six months now but is fully experienced having been a regular at the stroke rehabilitation ward at Clatterbridge hospital for seven years.

She’s a rescue dog, from Cyprus originally, and like all the TDN dogs was thoroughly temperament assessed before em-BARKING on her vocation. NB: She doesn’t bark in any care environment.

As well as hospices, therapy dogs will visit hospitals, care homes, schools, prisons and even large corporate organisations from time to time, building morale and emotional wellbeing.

Owner, Viv, was cabin crew for British Airways for thirty one years so has a great way with people too. She told us how she became involved with TDN and the joy Puddles brings,

“I was at a local dog show in Raby Mere when I came across the TDN stand. I chatted to the volunteers and was immediately struck by the passion they had for their dogs and their natural therapeutic qualities.

I then met with one of the co-founders, Eileen Slattery, (both co-founders are called Eileen) and just knew I wanted Puddles and I to be a part of it all. I feel like we, well Puddles mainly, are giving something back.

It’s just brilliant to see the smiles she puts on people’s faces.”

Every week the lives of many people are brightened up by a visit from a therapy dog.

We all look forward to welcoming Viv and Puddles back soon, as part of our hospice family.

To find out a little more about TDN visit www.tdn.org.uk